| Abstract: | Objective:Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) has been associated with cognitive function and brain structure. It remains unknown whether other parameters of arterial mechanical function, such as those derived from the reservoir-wave theory, contribute to the development of cognitive dysfunction associated with vascular aging. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the associations of the reservoir-wave parameters with cognitive function in a community-based sample.Design and method:A total of 822 seniors (aged >=60 years) participated in the sixth wave survey of the Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors two-Township study and received the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to evaluate the global cognitive function. cf-PWV was measured using carotid and femoral arterial tonometry. Reservoir-wave analysis was performed on the calibrated ensemble-average carotid pressure waveform to derive peak of reservoir pressure, amplitude of reservoir pressure, excess pressure integral, reservoir pressure integral, systolic and diastolic (DC) rate constants.Results:In univariable analysis, cf-PWV, amplitude of reservoir pressure, peak reservoir pressure, XSPI, and DC were significantly associated with MMSE (all P < 0.05). In multivariable analysis adjusting for age, sex, and education, only cf-PWV (std-B = −0.116, p = 0.0019) and DC (std-B = −0.086, p = 0.015) were significantly associated with MMSE. DC remained significantly associated with MMSE when cf-PWV was also adjusted (std-B = −0.106, P = 0.0048). The proportion of cognitive impairment (MMSE < 26) was 18.79% for high DC and 8.93% for low DC (P < 0.001); and 19.22% for high cf-PWV and 8.33% for low cf-PWV (P < 0.001). Subjects with high DC and high cf-PWV had a 2.95 fold-risk (95% confidence intervals: 1.35–6.35) for cognitive impairment when compared with subjects with low DC and low cf-PWV (P < 0.0001), when age, sex, and education were accounted for.Conclusions:In an elderly population, DC from the reservoir-wave analysis was significantly associated with cognitive function independent of cf-PWV. |
